Monday: My first official day of school was 14 January. We had an assembly in the dining hall and all the parents came to hear the results from last school year. The assembly was mostly done in Changana, but there was a visitor from the district who spoke in Portuguese. I was a bit lost, but I'll report the facts as I understood them. Apparently my school was #1 in the country in 2011. (The parents didn't believe the School Director and demanded to see the proof, so he sent someone off to the office to bring the plaque to prove it.)
Unfortunately, the results from 2012 were really bad. The 10th graders had a problem and so the school's ranking dropped. 10th grade is a year where students take important national exams--they're cumulative from 8th to 10th grade. Lots of kids fail 10th grade because of this.
There was some discussion about the uniform. It's required. For real, you guys, wear the uniform. The uniform is a cream short sleeve button down shirt, a very short green tie and green trousers or skirts. Most of my students don't wear the uniform though because I teach 8th grade and they're not required to have the uniform until April. But I'm sure as they get uniforms there will be strict enforcement...
I spent the rest of my day hiding in my house because I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be working (or, rather sitting in the teacher's lounge...which is what seems to pass as working most of the time).
Tuesday: My schedule was finally released. I don't have any afternoon classes on Tuesday, but I knew that they'd be releasing the Night School schedule AT ANY MINUTE. So I hung out/hid in my house. I even passed up a trip to the mercado with Kim because I wanted to be ready to jump into action. The schedule wasn't released.
Wednesday: I picked up my box of chalk and taught my first two classes. It was rough. It was so rough. My first Turma of kids played a long but it was lots of talking when my back was turned and lots of blank stares when I was trying to talk to them. My second Turma was unbearable. There were only about 20 kids in the class, but about 15 outside the room trying to find my breaking point. I don't know why these kids weren't in their own classes but they entertained themselves for my 45 minute class by yelling thing such as "Squeeze me Teacher, Squeeze me" or trying to get in the room "I just want to watch your class." I spent a lot of time shutting the door which only latches from the outside, and then hoping that no one would lock us into the classroom.
The night schedule came out. I am teaching night classes 4 nights a week, but not Wednesday nights.
Thursday: Didn't want to get out of bed. Taught one Turma. It went marginally better than my Wednesday afternoon class. Spent the afternoon hiding in my house. People ask me when they see me "Have you started teaching yet?" This question baffles me. Of course I've started teaching, school has started, right?
I was walking out my door to go to my first night school class at 9:20 pm. My neighbor yelled out of his house "Where are you going?" "To school" I say. "There are no students there" And I'm pretty sure that he means "There aren't MANY students there, so why bother?" I guess it's pretty common for professors to not show up to classes the first week (which might explain the crowds that form outside my classrooms). I knew in my heart of hearts that he meant "We don't go to class the first week, even though school is officially in session" but I chose to hear "There's no night school this week" So I went to bed.
Friday: I met my favorite Turma. Turma 3 will forever be in my heart as my favorite turma ever. They were enthusiastic and patient and at least had the decency to make fun of me quietly. I learn that there's supposed to be a march tomorrow. I Really Really don't want to go, but I've hidden in my house long enough.
Saturday: I woke up to rain! Rain! That means, no march and I spend the rest of the day with my door open entertaining criancas. I reach a record of 11 criancas in my house. Playing cards, screaming and coloring.
No comments:
Post a Comment